Does Pushpa 2 The Rule have lesser hype than KGF 2 ?
It is 2024 and there is no doubt about Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 The Rule being the most hyped film of the year but there is a section on the internet that believes that the film definitely has hype but it is not at par with Yash and Prashanth Neel fronted KGF Chapter 2. In this article, I will try my best to arrive at a logical conclusion backed with data and reports.
How to Measure Hype?
In trade, hype = box office numbers. I might say this is hyped or that is hyped but it is ultimately the box office numbers that show what real hype is and especially the opening day numbers in today’s time. Without box office numbers, you cannot prove anything and this becomes more evident when the initial advance booking response is noted. If the initial rush is there, the hype is there. Most of the notable releases this year like Kalki 2898 AD, Stree 2, The Greatest Of All Time etc had incredible initial rush when advances opened with Book My Show servers crashing. And eventually, the ones that had good word of mouth, went on to become huge grossers.
An Analysis on the Prequels
KGF Chapter 2 cast was huge with Yash, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Srinidhi Shetty etc and the same is with Pushpa 2 cast Allu Arjun, Fahad Faasil and Rashmika Mandanna headlining the hyped sequel. KGF Chapter 2 closed at a phenomenal Rs 1200 crore box office collection worldwide. While talking about Pushpa 2 The Rule and KGF Chapter 2, it is important for us to understand more about Pushpa The Rise and KGF because we are talking about two mega sequels.
Looking at how box office works, for a film to become a huge grosser it is the Hindi version that needs to perform well for obvious reasons and as the market is too big across the world. I will start tracking Pushpa 2 The Rule advance booking very soon but the response to Hindi version in USA says a lot about how things are going to be. The pace is rapid and the trending is extreme and better than outright Hindi Bollywood films too which guarantees a record opening in the region. Of the big markets, Australia has also opened its advance booking along with UK and the response is very good.
Now, let’s compare Pushpa The Rise (2021) and KGF (2018).
Footfalls
Pushpa The Rise (Hindi) saw approximately 1.3 crore ticket sales in 2021 which was a huge number then considering Covid-19. It also beat the Bollywood Highest Grosser of that year Sooryavanshi in terms of ticket sales. The film had run with 50% occupancy across key markets clashing with releases but eventually topped ticket sales for the year. Of course the content connected with masses but Allu Arjun has huge face value in North than to YouTube and Television where his dubbed films have registered record numbers. Now coming to KGF (Hindi), the footfalls are much lower which makes Pushpa (Hindi) a bigger deal. But, KGF (Hindi) saw a fractured release with much lesser screens and shows and yet emerged victorious. It clashed with Shah Rukh Khan starrer Zero but even then came across as a surprise as the film had opened to low numbers. The business of films has changed post pandemic and KGF Chapter 2 remains the film with highest admits post pandemic despite a non-favourable release period where the film saw various new releases. This means that Pushpa Part 1 had more cinema going audience. Which of course has its merits. Yash, on the other hand had his own audience through dubbed films which have also had many viewers through Television and YouTube. But it is KGF that made him a sensation in North. The film was a success at the Hindi box office but the trick was the popularity post digital presence where Rocky Bhai’s beard, hairstyle and ringtone had separate fan base. And post KGF 2, it’s a different story for Yash, he has become a huge thing.
Hindi Box Office
The market for Hindi films is huge and the real star is content. It is because of this that most big grossers have a huge number from the Hindi version. Hence, box office trending for the Hindi version of any film is important for a big lifetime. Pushpa The Rise (Hindi) did Rs 108 crore and due to low ticket prices, more and more people watched the film. On the other hand, KGF (Hindi) clashed with Zero and still managed to rake in Rs 44 crore which again is a big number for a standalone dubbed film from the south. But since it about comparisons, this needs to be mentioned. Pushpa has an edge because when more and more people watch Part 1, there is more anticipation for Part 2 subject to trailer reception in Hindi belt.
Music
Pushpa had chartbuster music. There is no denying. Oo Antava, Srivalli and the BGM was a rage in North and popular music is another huge asset for any film. KGF too had its cult BGM which became a rage and eventually the most downloaded ringtone of all time but that was post release. KGF also had ‘Gali Gali Mein’ which was talk of the town due to Yash’s swag and Mouni Roy’s moves. But the popularity came in after the release.
Non-Theatrical Viewership
KGF released in 2018 December and then part 2 released in 2022. Basically, the film was viewed on YouTube, OTT and Television in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 was the release for KGF 2. In case of Pushpa, the film was viewed in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to some extent which somewhat balances this aspect but Pushpa The Rise (Hindi) was a rare occasion where the film was working despite OTT debut which is a phenomenon of its own which talks about the appreciation among masses. This proves that the massive base is already locked and loaded for Pushpa 2: The Rule.
Dialogues
Here Pushpa wins it handsdown. “Flower Nahi, Fire Hai”, “Jhukega Nahi” are widely used. I have seen T-Shirts, Toys and many other products with these dialogues written which talks about the ground level popularity of the character Pushpa. Having backed by Allu Arjun gives it an added advantage and the pan India appeal. Credits to the writer, the dubbing artist and to Allu Arjun’s swag and screen presence. KGF on the other hand also had impact but since this article is about comparing the two, Pushpa wins this one. KGF had dialogues like “If you think I’m bad then I’m your dad’”, “Akela aata tha Monster”, “Landmark” and other dialogues too but those didn’t break out much on Instagram reels or YouTube shorts but yes, KGF 2 became a phenomenon due to “Nepotism”, “Violence Violence” and other mass dialogues. KGF part 1 clips had gained huge popularity which made Rocky Bhai one of the most iconic characters. The driving licence scene, Raymond brand reference and the scene where Rocky Bhai visits the club for arms delivery. In simple words, both the prequels became popular and if KGF did this to KGF 2, then Pushpa will of course do more to Pushpa 2 subject to content reception.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Pushpa The Rise has an advantage because of the reasons stated above and because of the title. Pushpa The Rule is sure to open with huge numbers and the lifetime will depend on word of mouth which will be governed by the content. Stay Tuned to Inside Box Office and also my official twitter handle for more information on advance booking stats.
Why does the hype feel low?
The answer is simple. When you share assets, the circulation of assets and the conversation around it shows the hype to some extent but in this case, it has been a long time since we saw any asset. Pushpa 2 The Rule targets a certain set of markets and centres and the Teaser did not address those markets but was riding more on the star-power of Allu Arjun. In case of KGF Chapter 2, the Teaser was made for the target audience. In simple words, delivering what the audience expected. But with Pushpa 2 The Rule, it was the first glimpse video that had got blockbuster response as it was made for the target audience. The Trailer will release on the 17th of November and that will show everyone the meaning of buzz and hype subject to how solid the cut is. Pushpa The Rise (Hindi) became a rage due to the high on testosterone content, swag, appeal and the massy portrayal whereas the Teaser did not have these and was more about the star driving it. If the trailer has these elements, then no one can stop the film from creating history. This is for the general audience and netizens. KGF 2 Teaser was amazing and if Pushpa 2 The Rule Trailer is on the same level then there’s no looking back. At industry level, Pushpa 2 The Rule is seen as a giant and many stake holders made negotiations for other films using this film so you can understand the kind of beast the film is. If the film is released without assets, it can still smash all records, this is what the trade believes in but when you can score 100/100 why be happy with 90/100?
Stay Tuned to Inside Box Office and my Twitter handle for more updates!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fans of “Pushpa” have been eagerly awaiting the second installment, “Pushpa: The Rule.” The wait is almost over, as “Pushpa 2” is set to release on December 5, 2024.
The top cast in Pushpa 2 includes Allu Arjun, Fahad Faasil, Rashmika Mandana, Sai Pallavi, Prakash Raj, Koushik Mahata, Jagapathi Babu, Divi Vadthya, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Rao Ramesh, Ajay Ghosh, and Dayanand Reddy.
Directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is on the way. Pushpa 2 The Rule movie rating will come out after the movie releases.
The genre of “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is an action thriller.
